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By assessing the polarization, colour, dextran, starch, phenols, proteins, melassigenic cations (Na+, K+) and Ca2+, reducing sugars and pH, presented study evaluates the main factors influencing non-sugars content and juice filterability in 17 raw cane sugar samples of different geographical origin. α-amylase and dextranase were applied for combined enzymatic degradation of starch and dextran as main undesirable compounds in raw cane sugar juices (15 °Brix and pH 5.5) at four different concentrations (10:12.5, 20:25, 30:37.5 and 40:50 ppm) and 55 °C during 30 min. Decrease of starch and dextran concentrations in juices remarkably increased filterability in range of 20-75% for different raw cane sugar juices. Combined enzymatic effect of α-amylase and dextranase mixture in concentration 30:37.5 ppm showed best result for improving filterability of raw cane sugar juices through reduction in starch and dextran content as main non-sugar impurities. Selecting the raw cane sugar with appropriate quality parameters facilitates the refining process. Simultaneous addition of α-amylase and dextranase mixture (30:37.5 ppm/juice) can improve filterability of low polarization raw cane sugar juice up to 41% and contribute to the refining process enhancement and thus obtention of high-quality refined cane sugar.

Background: The utilization of nutrition management, has recently been developed as a means of improving the growth and production of phytochemical compounds in herbs. The present study aimed to improve the growth, physiological, and phytochemical characteristics of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) using different NH 4 + (ammonium) to NO 3 ̄ (nitrate) ratios (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and 100:0) under floating culture system (FCS)., Results: The treatment containing 0:100 - NH 4 + :NO 3 ̄ ratio showed the most remarkable values for the growth and morpho-physiological characteristics of M. officinalis. The results demonstrated that maximum biomass (105.57 g) earned by using the ratio of 0:100 and minimum at 75:25 ratio of NH 4 + : NO 3 ̄. The plants treated with high nitrate ratio (0:100 - NH 4 + ̄ ratio caused the highest dry matter (DM), N and K macronutrients in the leaves. The highest antioxidant activity by both DPPH (37.39 µg AAE/mL) and FRAP (69.55 mM Fe 3 ̄) showed the greatest concentration of total phenolics (60.40 mg GAE/g DW), chlorophyll a (31.32 mg/100 g DW), flavonoids (12.97 mg QUE/g DW), and carotenoids (83.06 mg/100 g DW). Using the 75:25 - NH 4 + :NO 3 ̄ ratio caused the highest dry matter (DM), N and K macronutrients in the leaves. The highest antioxidant activity by both DPPH (37.39 µg AAE/mL) and FRAP (69.55 mM Fe ++ /g DW) methods was obtained in 75:25 - NH 4 + :NO 3 ̄ treatment. The p-coumaric acid as a main abundant phenolic composition, was detected by HPLC analysis as the highest content in samples grown under 0:100 - NH 4 + :NO 3 ̄ treatment. Also, the major compounds in M. officinalis essential oil were identified as geranial, neral, geranyl acetate and geraniol by GC analysis. With increasing NO 3 ̄ application, geraniol and geranyl acetate contents were decreased., Conclusions: The findings of present study suggest that the management of NH4 + to NO 3 ̄ ratios in nutrient solutions could contribute to improving growth, physiological and phytochemical properties of M. officinalis. The plants treated with high nitrate ratio (especially 0:100 - NH 4 + :NO 3 ̄) showed the greatest effects on improving the growth and production of morpho-physiological and phytochemical compounds. By comprehensively understanding the intricate dynamics among nitrogen sources, plants, and their surroundings, researchers and practitioners can devise inventive approaches to optimize nitrogen management practices and foster sustainable agricultural frameworks., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Agrifood by-products contain nutrients and bioactive compounds that can be used in the diets of livestock - thereby value-adding to an otherwise waste product of environmental and economic significance. This study investigated the effect of dietary pomegranate pulp in the total mixed ration of Ghezel lambs, evaluating its effect on growth performance, blood parameters, carcass traits, as well as meat quality and shelf life. 3-month-old Ghezel lambs (individually housed, n = 8) were randomly assigned to be either non-supplemented (control) or supplemented with 100 g/kg DM of sun-dried pomegranate pulp for 28 days, post-adjustment. Results showed that supplementation of lamb diets with pomegranate pulp significantly increased liveweight and average daily gains, while not significantly affecting dry matter intake. Lamb serum urea and alkaline phosphatase concentrations and hot carcass weight were increased with pomegranate pulp supplementation. Compared to control lambs, the meat from lambs fed the supplemented diet had higher concentrations of intramuscular fat, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid, total unsaturated fatty acid, and meat phenolic compounds. Pomegranate pulp supplemented lambs also had a higher ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids; and produced liver tissue with less fat and ash contents. Meat oxidative status (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance ) and quality (water holding capacity, colour, and pH) were improved when lambs were supplemented with pomegranate pulp. These findings demonstrate that using pomegranate pulp as a feed for Ghezel lambs has advantageous effects on animal performance and meat quality, offering valorisation of an agrifood by-product., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Crown Copyright © 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

This study focused on the characterization of emulsions and microparticles encapsulating Chavir essential oil (EO) by application of modified whey protein concentrate-maltodextrin (WPC-MD). Different physical, chemical, morphological, thermal, and antioxidant properties and release behavior of spray-dried microparticles were assessed. Antioxidant, solubility, emulsifying, and foaming activities of modified WPC were increased compared to those of primary material. The results indicated that the particle size distribution varied depending on the type of carriers used, with the smallest particles formed by hydrolyzed WPC (HWPC). Binary blends of modified WPC-MD led to improved particle sizes. The spray-drying yield ranged from 64.1% to 85.0%, with higher yields observed for blends of MD with sonicated WPC (UWPC). Microparticles prepared from primary WPC showed irregular and wrinkled surfaces with indentations and pores, indicating a less uniform morphology. The UWPC as a wall material led to microparticles with increased small cracks and holes on their surface. However, HWPC negatively affected the integrity of the microparticles, resulting in broken particles with irregular shapes and surface cracks, indicating poor microcapsule formation. Encapsulating EO using WPC-MD increased the thermal stability of EO significantly, enhancing the degradation temperature of EO by 2 to 2.5-fold. The application of primary WPC (alone or in combination with MD) as wall materials produced particles with the lowest antioxidant properties because the EO cannot migrate to the surface of the particles. Enzymatic hydrolysis of WPC negatively impacted microparticle integrity, potentially increasing EO release. These findings underscore the crucial role of wall materials in shaping the physical, morphological, thermal, antioxidant, and release properties of spray-dried microparticles, offering valuable insights for microencapsulation techniques.

The effects of gelatin coatings (2% and 4%) containing chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs; 1% and 2%), in combination with calcium-alginate coatings (CA; 2%), on quality attributes and shelf life of chicken breast meat were evaluated at 4°C for 12 days. The results indicated that double-active gelatin-calcium alginate coatings had significant ( p  < .05) effects on moisture and protein content. Incorporation of ChNPs into double gelatin-CA coatings led to significant reduction ( p  < .05) in TBARS, pH, and TVB-N values at the end of storage. The counts of total viable count (TVC), coliforms, yeasts, and molds were significantly ( p  < .05) lower in all coated samples, particularly in treated samples by 4% gelatin containing 2% ChNPs + 2% CA coatings (6.85, 6.78, and 5.91 log CFU/g, respectively, compared with 8.35, 8.76, and 7.71 log CFU/g in control) at the end of keeping time. The results of sensory attributes showed that the coated samples had higher overall acceptability scores compared with the untreated samples. A synergistic relationship between the concentrations of gelatin and ChNPs was observed in maintaining the quality characteristics of meat samples during storage. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the performance of double gelatin coating containing ChNPs in combination with CA coating in the storage quality improvement of chicken breast meat stored for 12 days at 4 °C to develop novel and practical coatings for meat and meat products., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest relevant to this article., (© 2023 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The effects of oleaster leave essential oil (OLEOs: 1000 and 2000 ppm) in combination with nisin nanoparticles (200 ppm) and ε-polylysine nanoparticles (2000 ppm) on the physicochemical, microbiological and sensory properties of the emulsion-type sausages without added chemical nitrite/nitrate salts were evaluated during 45 days of storage. Nanoparticle attributes were assessed, including encapsulation efficiency (EE%), zeta potential, nanoparticles size, FTIR analysis, and thermal stability (DSC). Overall, ε-PL nanoparticles (ε-PL-NPs) were thermally more stable and showed higher EE% (91.52%) and zeta potential (37.80%) as compared to nisin nanoparticles (82.85%) and (33.60%), respectively. The use of combined ε-PL-NPs (2000 ppm) + Ni-NPs (200 ppm) with oleaster leaves essential oil (2000 ppm) resulted in a higher pH value (5.88), total phenolic content (10.45 mg/100 g) and lower TBARS (2.11 mg/kg), and also decreased total viable bacteria (1.28 Log CFU/g), Clostridium perfringens (1.43 Log CFU/g), E. coli (0.24 Log CFU/g), Staphylococcus aureus (0.63 Log CFU/g), and molds and yeasts (0.86 Log CFU/g) count in samples at day 45 in comparison to the control (120 ppm nitrite). The consumers approved sensory traits in nitrite-free formulated sausages containing ε-PL-NPs and Ni-NPs combined with OLEOs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors reported no potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

This study aimed for the application of active chitosan coating incorporating yarrow essential oil (YEO) together with the development of an on-package sensor label based on bromocresol purple (BCP) and methyl red (MR) for shelf-life extension and freshness monitoring of chicken breast fillet. Physiochemical and microbiological attributes of chicken meat coated with sole chitosan, YEO, and chitosan + YEO were compared with those of uncoated (control) samples. Chitosan + YEO coated chicken meat stayed fresh with no significant changes (p > 0.05) in pH (5.42−5.56), TVB-N (12.55−15.36 mg N/100 g), TBARs (0.35−0.40 mg MDA/kg) and total aerobic psycrotrophic bacteria (3.97−4.65 log CFU/g) in days 1−15. There was no response of the dual-sensors label toward the variation in chemical and microbiological indicators of chicken meat coated with chitosan + YEO. However, either uncoated, sole chitosan, or sole YEO treatments indicated a three-stage freshness status with the fresh stage belonged to a period earlier than day 7 (with no distinct color change in both sensor labels); the semi-fresh stage corresponded to storage days between 7−9, wherein a gradual color change appeared (MR from pink to orange, BCP from yellow to light purple); and the spoiled stage occurred in day 9 onward with a drastic color change (MR from orange to light yellow, BCP from light purple to deep purple). In general, the dual-sensors successfully responded to the variation of chemical and microbiological indicators and visual color of uncoated samples during storage time. Based on the obtained results, the application of chitosan + YEO coating efficiently prolonged the freshness of chicken breast meat, where on-package dual-sensors systems were able to detect the freshness stages of meat samples during storage time.

The present study aimed to optimize the formulation of buckwheat/lentil gluten-free beverages fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium bifidum . Physicochemical parameters of 14 different beverages, such as pH, acidity, total solids, ash, total phenol content, antioxidant activity, and sensory test, were assessed after 24 h of fermentation. The results showed that the numbers of viable cells of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria on the first day of the experiment were 9.9 and 9.6 log (CFU ml -1 ), respectively, which were over 9 log (CFU ml -1 ). During 24 h from the fermentation, the number of viable cells for all beverages decreased, which reached an average probiotic count of 8.81 log (CFU ml -1 ) that was statistically significantly different from the probiotic count before fermentation ( p  < .05). Cell viability was evaluated and shelf life was estimated during 15-day refrigerated storage. At the end of the storage (15th day), the beverages contained an average of 8.4 log (CFU ml -1 ) of live lactobacilli cells and 7.8 log (CFU ml -1 ) of viable bifidobacterial cells. The optimized levels of independent factors for sprouted buckwheat and lentil flours were 51.96% and 48.04%, respectively. The optimized probiotic beverage was contained 0.25 (% lactic acid) acidity, 5.7 pH, 7.9% total solids, 0.4% ash, 41.02% DPPH, 26.96 (mg GAE/ml) phenol compounds, and 8.65 log (CFU ml -1 ) probiotic count. The optimized beverage had distinct organoleptic properties on day 15 of refrigerated storage. This study showed that Bifidobacterium bifidum can be used for the development of potentially probiotic beverage with sprouted buckwheat and lentil., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Improving yield and secondary metabolites production of medicinal plants through nutrition management recently has been considered. The present study was done to determine the effects of different ammonium (NH 4 + ) ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100) on morphophysiological, nutrient contents (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg), phenolic compounds (Total phenolics (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents and individual phenolics including chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid, gallic acid, cinnamic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, p-Coumaric acid, apigenin, and quercetin by HPLC-DAD), essential oil composition (by GC and GC-MS), and antioxidant capacity (by DPPH and FRAP assays) of Moldavian balm (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) in deep water culture (DWC) system. The highest biomass and morphological traits values of D. moldavica observed in 0:100 ratio of NH 3 - ) ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100) on morphophysiological, nutrient contents (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg), phenolic compounds (Total phenolics (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents and individual phenolics including chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid, gallic acid, cinnamic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, p-Coumaric acid, apigenin, and quercetin by HPLC-DAD), essential oil composition (by GC and GC-MS), and antioxidant capacity (by DPPH and FRAP assays) of Moldavian balm (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) in deep water culture (DWC) system. The highest biomass and morphological traits values of D. moldavica observed in 0:100 ratio of NH 4 + :NO 3 - . Also, the highest TPC and TFC was earned in plants that supplied with 0:100 ratio of NH 4 + :NO 3 - . Using the 25:75 ratio of NH 4 + :NO 3 - caused the highest nutrient contents (N, Ca and Mg) in the leaves. p-Coumaric acid was detected as the major abundant phenolic compound in extracts and the application of 75:25 ratio of NH 4 + :NO 3 resulted in the highest amounts of p-Coumaric acid, gallic acid, rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin, and rutin. The highest antioxidant capacity by both FRAP and DPPH assays was obtained in 75:25 ratio of NH 4 + :NO 3 - . Also, the highest geranial and geranyl acetate, geraniol, and neral were obtained in 75:25, 25:75, and 50:50 ratios of NH 4 + :NO 3 - , respectively. Plants supplied with the 0:100 ratio of NH 4 + :NO 3 - , had the highest total carotenoids, while the highest chlorophyll a and b content gained with 75:25 ratio of NH 4 + :NO 3 - . These results suggest that the management of N source in nutrient recipe could contribute to enhance of morphophysiological traits, antioxidant activity and phytochemical compounds in Moldavian balm., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of calcium-alginate (CA) containing Artemisia fragrance essential oils (AFEOs) as a potential antioxidant and antimicrobial coating on quality attributes and shelf life of chicken meat throughout keeping period (4°C). Five treatments were produced as follows: T1 (distilled water as control), T2 (2% CA), T3 (2% CA +500 ppm AFEOs), T4 (2% CA +1000 ppm AFEOs), and T5 (2% CA +1500 ppm AFEOs). The chicken meats packaged in polyethylene bags at atmospheric condition and physicochemical, microbiological, and organoleptic properties were assessed at days 1, 4, 8, and 12. There was no remarkable difference in proximate composition (moisture, ash, protein, and fat) of meat samples by treating with CA or AFEOs. The results revealed that CA +AFEOs coating reduced significantly the pH, total volatile base nitrogen ( TVB-N), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values and also displayed higher contents of the total phenolic content (TPC) and redness value when compared with control. According to results, 2% CA +1500 ppm AFEOs reduced 58.3 (mg MDA (malondialdehyde)/kg) and 0.63 (mg/100 g) of TBARS and TVB-N values when compared to control, respectively. The microbiological count showed that CA +AFEOs had a significantly higher inhibitory impact on the total viable count (TVC), coliforms, molds and yeasts. At day 12, 6.89 Log CFU (colony-forming units)/g was recorded for TVC in 2% CA +1500 ppm AFEOs, which was the lowest overall. This treatment also displayed the reduction of 2.97 Log CFU/g in coliforms and 3.3 Log CFU/g in molds and yeasts in comparison with uncoated samples. The outcomes of pH, TBARS, TPC, color values, microbiological count, and organoleptic properties suggested 2% CA +1500 ppm AFEOs as an efficient coating for quality stability and improving the shelf life of chicken breast meat without negative impact on organoleptic properties., Competing Interests: The authors reported no potential conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)